Geoffrey Of Monmouth (c.1100-1154) wrote completed his History it in its final form in 1147. Although it purports to be a book of historical fact, it is more a collection of ancient tales and legends, concerning, for example, King Arthur and Merlin. This manuscript has detailed pencil sketches of a number towns added in some of its margins; these are exceptionally early examples of eye-witness 'cityscapes'. Some of them seem to have been executed in two stages: first with faint grey pencil, and later with darker brown 'crayon'. The text on this page concerns King Leir, who founded Leicester (Leir-chester). Geoffrey of Monmouth records that Leir, having no sons, divided his kingdom between his daughters, Gonorilla, Regau, and Cordeilla: this is the basis of William Shakespeare's play, King Lear.